Music

Joshua Nelson Concert

Saturday7:30 pm
to 10:00 pm

A concert of kosher gospel will be performed by Joshua Nelson at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Congregation Beth El, 660 Ocean Avenue in New London. This program is co-sponsored by Temple Emanu-El, Congregation Beth El, and Jewish Federation of Eastern CT. For Joshua Nelson, kosher gospel is a way to claim both parts of his identity as a Black Jew. Kosher gospel is the marriage of Jewish religious lyrics and meanings with the soulful sounds of American gospel music. While gospel is usually associated with African-American Christian churches, the roots of gospelís rhythmic and vocal style come from West African traditions that predate Christianity. Similar sounds are retained in the musical cultures of African Muslims and Jews, and such soul-inflected vocalizations filled the Black Hebrew synagogue Joshua Nelson attended as a child with his family, observant Jews who traced their lineage back to Senegal. All are welcome to attend. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. 860-442-0418